The Ideal Copy

The Ideal Copy
Studio album by Wire
Released	April 1987
Recorded	November 1986—January 1987
Studio	Hansa Tonstudio, Berlin, West Germany Strongroom, London, UK Metropol, Berlin, West Germany (Live 1986)
Genre	Post-punk alternative rock alternative dance electronic
Length	34:39 (Original album) 63:18 (Reissue with bonus tracks)
Label	Mute, Enigma
Producer	Gareth Jones
Wire studio album chronology
154 (1979) The Ideal Copy (1987) A Bell Is a Cup (1988)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Rolling Stone	(Not Rated)
Robert Christgau	B−

The Ideal Copy is the fourth studio album by the English rock group Wire. It was the first full-length recording following the band's hiatus of 1980–1985. (The band had recorded and released the Snakedrill EP in 1986 after reuniting). Mute Records released the album. The Ideal Copy peaked at number 87 in the UK albums chart.

Wire had used electronic instruments on the albums Chairs Missing and 154, but following their hiatus, Wire more openly embraced the use of sequencers, synthesisers, and drum machines. This prompted music critics to compare The Ideal Copy to groups such as New Order. One critic, Kirk Fillmore, further compared the electric bass's sound on the single "Ahead" to that of New Order's Peter Hook, though bassist Graham Lewis had played in such a style on previous Wire albums. Indeed, journalist Richard Grabel pointed out that "New Order and any number of other synths-and-guitars bands took cues from late-70s Wire," suggesting that "things [had] come full circle."

In May 1988, The Ideal Copy became the first popular music recording to be commercially released on DAT format.

The album title

The phrase "the ideal copy" is repeated throughout the song "Ambitious." Graham Lewis, in a Creem interview, stated "the ideal copy" ultimately refers to DNA, "but Bruce [Gilbert] had a dream about it and decided we had to take that out of the song".

Reception

Allmusic said the album was a "stunning comeback picking up where 154 left off while also reflecting the strides made by the members' solo work" and that the album was "experimental and forward-thinking".

Track listing

All titles written by Wire (Graham Lewis/Colin Newman/Bruce Gilbert/Robert Gotobed).

1. "Point of Collapse" – 3:18
2. "Ahead" – 4:53
3. "Madman's Honey" – 4:23
4. "Feed Me" – 5:50
5. "Ambitious" – 4:00
6. "Cheeking Tongues" – 2:02
7. "Still Shows" – 4:00
8. "Over Theirs" – 5:18

In addition to the eight album tracks, the compact disc and cassette configurations appended the Snakedrill EP in its entirety, along with three concert recordings:

9. "A Serious of Snakes" – 4:53
10. "Drill" – 5:05
11. "Advantage in Height" – 3:05
12. "Up to the Sun" – 2:50
13. "Ambulance Chasers" (Live) – 3:02
14. "Feed Me" (Live) – 4:27
15. "Vivid Riot of Red" (Live) – 2:28

The UK CD edition on Mute Records (CD STUMM 42), in addition to the eight album tracks, appends a different version of "Ahead", as well as the Snakedrill EP and the three concert recordings:

9. "Ahead (II)" – 3:29
10. "A Serious of Snakes" – 4:42
11. "Drill" – 5:03
12. "Advantage in Height" – 3:02
13. "Up to the Sun" – 2:42
14. "Ambulance Chasers" (Live) – 2:55
15. "Feed Me" (Live) – 4:28
16. "Vivid Riot of Red" (Live) – 2:22

Personnel

Wire

• Colin Newman – voice, guitar, various
• Lewis – voice, bass guitar, various
• B. C. Gilbert – guitar
• Robert Gotobed – drums, various

Production

• Gareth Jones – production, engineer
• Andre Giere – assistant engineer
• Sven – front cover image